From having a single electric car in its range (the innovative i3), BMW’s EV offering has grown in recent years to include seven cars, including four fully electric SUVs.
This guide provides a broad overview of what you need to know about buying an electric BMW in 2024. For more general queries about buying, charging and driving an EV, visit the Motoring Electric advice pages.
Buying a BMW electric car
What fully electric cars does BMW sell?
BMW currently sells seven different electric cars. Starting with the SUVs, these are the iX1, iX2, iX3 and flagship iX, while the others are the i4 Gran Coupe, i5 four-door saloon and i5 Touring (estate), and the i7 luxury saloon.
Which BMW electric cars are coming soon?
The new BMW iX3 will go on sale in 2025. Using architecture that will underpin most new BMW electric cars, the new iX3 will feature styling inspired by the Neue Klasse concept car and is expected to be offered with a choice of 75kWh, 90kWh and 105kWh battery sizes.Â
What is BMW’s electric car brand called?
Taking a leaf out of Apple’s book, BMW’s electric car brand is called ‘i’ – hence i4, i5, iX3 and so on.
What is the warranty on a BMW electric car battery?
The electric car battery is covered for up to eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Overall, a BMW electric car is covered by a three-year unlimited mileage warranty.
Where can you buy a BMW electric car?
You can buy a new BMW electric car from your nearest BMW dealer.
How much do BMW electric cars cost?
Starting with the range of SUVs, the BMW iX1 starts at around £46,000. Next up the ladder is the iX2 at £52,000, while the iX3 costs upwards of £65,000. Prices for the iX start at £71,000.
At £61,000, the i4 is the most affordable non-SUV (although hardly cheap). The i5 starts at £68,000, or £70,000 for the Touring (estate). Finally, prices for the i7 luxury saloon start at £102,000.
Charging a BMW electric car
What type of plug do BMW EVs use?
BMW electric cars use Type 2 (AC) and CCS (DC) plugs.
What charging equipment comes as standard with a BMW electric car?
All BMW electric cars come with Mode 2 and Mode 3 charging cables included.
The former is for connecting to a home electricity supply via a three-pin plug. The latter is to connect with public charging points or a dedicated home EV charger.
Can BMW electric cars use rapid chargers?
Yes, BMW electric cars can use rapid chargers.
Can BMW electric cars use Ionity chargers?
Yes, BMW electric cars can use the Ionity 350kW ultra-rapid charging network.
Where is the charging point located on a BMW electric car?
In the majority of cases, the charging point is located on the driver’s side of a UK-spec car, above the rear wheel. This is where you’d normally expect to find a petrol filler cap.
Which charge partner does BMW work with?
BMW has teamed up with BP Pulse to offer preferential rates for charging across the UK, plus no subscription fee for the first 12 months after purchasing a new electric car. All new BMW EVs also come with an Ionity Plus package, which offers preferential rates and no subscription fee for 12 months.
Does BMW offer a wallbox charger?
When you buy an electric BMW, you can opt for a Pod Point 7kW Solo 3 Home Charger wallbox for £899.
Do you get a free wallbox when you buy a new BMW electric car?
No, the Pod Point wallbox is an optional extra.
What is the maximum charging speed of a BMW electric car?
Again, this depends on the model and the type of charger. Taking the i5 eDrive40 Sport Edition Touring as an example, charging from zero to 80 percent takes around 30 minutes via an Ionity ultra-rapid charger, while using a home wallbox could take up to 8.5 hours.
You can expect an 80 percent charge to take between an hour and 90 minutes when using a 50kW charger.
Driving a BMW electric car
What is the range of a BMW electric car?
The BMW i7 offers between 365 and 384 miles of electric range in the official tests, while the i4, i5 and i5 Touring can achieve between 311 and 359 miles, depending on the model.
No BMW electric SUV can achieve 300 miles of range, although the iX1 comes close, with 275 to 293 miles from a fully charged battery. At 251-264 miles, the large iX offers the least amount of range, while the iX2 and iX3 offer 259-266 and 290-292 miles of range, respectively.
What is the BMW electric car smartphone app called?
The BMW smartphone app is called My BMW. Along with the standard features, such as suggesting the ideal time to leave, you can also check the status of your EV.
How many BMW dealers are there and do they offer free charging for owners?
There are around 135 BMW dealers in the UK, but they do not offer free charging for electric cars – including new BMWs.
Does BMW sat nav show charging point locations and availability?
Yes, it’s possible to identify charging points using the sat nav. The system will also tell you if the destination can be reached using the charge left in the battery.
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